US6445884B1 — Camera with through-the-lens lighting

Claim 1

Independent Claim 128 words

A camera with through-the-lens lighting, comprising: a modulated light source; a photosensitive surface; focusing optics, having an optical axis, that forms an image of a scene, within a field of view, on the photosensitive surface, wherein light from the light source is boresighted with the optical axis and directed toward the scene, illuminating substantially only the field of view of the camera; a modulator which modulates radiation striking the photosensitive surface or the sensitivity of the photosensitive surface, wherein the modulator does not modulate the light source; and a controller, controlling the modulator and the modulation of the light-source, to block a reaction of the photosensitive surface whenever the modulated source of light is on, while insuring that all the desired radiation reflected from the scene is collected.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 128 words

A camera with through-the-lens lighting, comprising: a modulated light source; a photosensitive surface; focusing optics, having an optical axis, that forms an image of a scene, within a field of view, on the photosensitive surface, wherein light from the light source is boresighted with the optical axis and directed toward the scene, illuminating substantially only the field of view of the camera; a modulator which modulates radiation striking the photosensitive surface or the sensitivity of the photosensitive surface, wherein the modulator does not modulate the light source; and a controller, controlling the modulator and the modulation of the light-source, to block a reaction of the photosensitive surface whenever the modulated source of light is on, while insuring that all the desired radiation reflected from the scene is collected.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

A camera according to claim 1 and including a collimating lens which collimates the light.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 11 words

A camera according to claim 1 wherein the light is coherent.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 11 words

A camera according to claim 2 wherein the light is coherent.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 11 words

A camera according to claim 1 wherein the light is incoherent.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 12 words

A camera according to claim 2 wherein the light source is incoherent.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

A camera according to any of claims 1 - 6 , wherein the camera is an optical ranging camera, wherein only a desired, gated portion of the reflected radiation from the scene is collected and wherein intensity values of the image are indicative of distances of objects from the camera.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

A camera according to any of claims 1 - 6 , wherein the focusing optics comprises telecentric optics which collimates also reflected radiation from the scene.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

A camera according to claim 7 , wherein the focusing optics comprises telecentric optics which collimates also reflected radiation from the scene.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

A camera according to any of claims 1 - 6 wherein the modulator is operative to vary the sensitivity of the photosensitive surface.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

A camera according to any of claims 1 - 6 , wherein the modulator modulates radiation striking the photosensitive surface and transmits substantially all the reflected radiation from the scene that reaches the camera.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

A camera according to any of claims 1 - 6 wherein the source and photosensitive surface have substantially equivalent optical extents, so that light emerges through the lens, illuminating substantially only the field of view of the camera.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 47 words

A camera according to any of claims 1 - 6 wherein the light source has an extended area from which light is radiated and comprising a variable-aperture iris adjacent to the extended area and wherein the aperture size controls the extent of the illuminated field of view.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 93 words

A method of creating an image with through-the-lens lighting comprising: boresighting a beam of incoherent light with the optical axis of a camera, having a field of view; illuminating a scene with the beam of incoherent light, emerging from the camera along the optical axis, such that a region illuminated by the beam is substantially congruent with the field of view of the camera; and creating an image on a photosensitive surface of the camera using light from the boresighted light that is reflected from the scene that is collected by the camera.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 93 words

A method of creating an image with through-the-lens lighting comprising: boresighting a beam of incoherent light with the optical axis of a camera, having a field of view; illuminating a scene with the beam of incoherent light, emerging from the camera along the optical axis, such that a region illuminated by the beam is substantially congruent with the field of view of the camera; and creating an image on a photosensitive surface of the camera using light from the boresighted light that is reflected from the scene that is collected by the camera.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of creating an image with through-the-lens lighting comprising: providing a modulated beam of light; boresighting the beam with an optical axis of a camera having a field of view; illuminating a scene with the beam, emerging from the camera, such that substantially only the field of view of the camera is illuminated; modulating the activation of a photosensitive surface of the camera in synchrony with the beam modulation, such that light is blocked from activating the photosensitive surface whenever the beam is on, while insuring that all the desired reflected radiation from the scene is collected on the photosensitive surface; and creating an image on the photosensitive surface using the collected light.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of creating an image with through-the-lens lighting comprising: providing a modulated beam of light; boresighting the beam with an optical axis of a camera having a field of view; illuminating a scene with the beam, emerging from the camera, such that substantially only the field of view of the camera is illuminated; modulating the activation of a photosensitive surface of the camera in synchrony with the beam modulation, such that light is blocked from activating the photosensitive surface whenever the beam is on, while insuring that all the desired reflected radiation from the scene is collected on the photosensitive surface; and creating an image on the photosensitive surface using the collected light.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method according to claim 15 wherein modulating the activation comprises blocking light from incidence on the photosensitive surface.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 15 wherein modulating the activation comprises modulating the sensitivity of the photosensitive surface.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method according to any of claim 14 - 17 and including collimating the beam.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 131 words

A method of creating an image with through-the-lens lighting comprising: providing a beam of light, emanating from an extended source, internal to a camera; boresighting the beam with an optical axis of the camera; and illuminating a scene with the beam, emerging from the camera, such that the beam illuminates a region substantially congrugent with the field of view of the camera; modulating the beam; modulating activation of a photosensitive surface of the camera in synchrony with the beam modulation, blocking light from activating the photosensitive surface whenever the beam is on, while insuring that all the desired reflected radiation from the scene is collected and; creating an image on the photosensitive surface of the camera using boresighted light that is reflected from the scene that is collected by the camera.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 131 words

A method of creating an image with through-the-lens lighting comprising: providing a beam of light, emanating from an extended source, internal to a camera; boresighting the beam with an optical axis of the camera; and illuminating a scene with the beam, emerging from the camera, such that the beam illuminates a region substantially congrugent with the field of view of the camera; modulating the beam; modulating activation of a photosensitive surface of the camera in synchrony with the beam modulation, blocking light from activating the photosensitive surface whenever the beam is on, while insuring that all the desired reflected radiation from the scene is collected and; creating an image on the photosensitive surface of the camera using boresighted light that is reflected from the scene that is collected by the camera.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 19 wherein modulating the activation comprises blocking light from reaching the photosensitive surface.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 19 wherein modulating the activation comprises modulating the sensitivity of the photosensitive surface.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 133 words

A method according to any of claims 15 - 17 or 21 , wherein modulating activation of the photosensitive surface in synchrony with the beam comprises: estimating the average distance to the scene and the depth of scene; modulating the light source with a multiple-pulse function of square pulses having a duration of δ 1 seconds each, δ 2 seconds apart, wherein during δ 1 , light is transmitted and during δ 2 , light is blocked; modulating activation of the photosensitive surface with a multiple-pulse function of square pulses so that during δ 1 , the surface is not sensitive to light and during at least part of δ 2 , the surface is sensitive to light; and determining δ 1 and δ 2 responsive the average distance and depth of scene.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method according to claim 22 wherein the duration of the light pulse, is shorter than twice the time taken for light to propagate to the scene and wherein δ 1 +δ 2 , the time for a complete modulation cycle, is greater than the total time for light to propagate to the scene and for reflected radiation from all points on the scene to be recovered.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 84 words

A method according to claim 22 wherein estimating comprises: focusing the camera on the scene using the camera's focusing optics; determining the distance to a point of optimum focus based on the setting of the focusing optics; determining the depth of field of the focusing optics for that setting; estimating the distance to scene based on the distance to a point of optimum focus; and estimating the depth of the scene based on the depth of field of the focusing optics for that setting.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method according to claim 22 wherein estimating comprises: setting the camera to a range-determining mode; varying the modulation function; and using the first few images to estimate the distance to the scene and the depth of the scene.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method according to claim 22 wherein a number of pulses of light illuminates the scene to provide a desired illumination thereof, said desired illumination being based at least in part on the determined distance.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method according to claim 22 wherein estimating comprises setting the value of distance to the scene plus the depth of the scene to be equal to the range of the light source.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 156 words

A method according to any of claims 28 - 30 or 35 , wherein modulating activation of the photosensitive surface in synchrony with the beam comprises: estimating the amount of light reflected from different portions of the scene which reaches the camera from various parts of the scene; modulating the light source with a multiple-pulse function of square pulses having a duration of δ 1 seconds each, δ 2 seconds apart, wherein δ 1 and δ 2 are determined responsive to said estimate and during δ 1 , light is transmitted and during δ 2 , light is blocked; and modulating activation of the photosensitive surface with a multiple-pulse function of square pulses so that during δ 1 , the surface is not sensitive to light and during at least part of δ 2 , the surface is sensitive to light, so as to adjust the range of light reaching various portions of the photosensitive surface.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 46 words

A camera according to any of claims 1 - 6 wherein the controller controls the modulation of the light source so that the light source provides a plurality of light pulses such that a total desired amount of light reaches the photosensitive surface from the scene.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-09-02	2006-03-04	2006-09-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-09-02	2010-03-04	2010-09-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-09-02	2014-03-04	2014-09-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Camera with through-the-lens lighting

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